Valve mechanism



March 25, 1941 c; l.. GUTTERY VALVE MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1940` the screw I5, and has formed integrally therewith a downwardly extending frame structure 24 adapted to be bolted by .bolts 23 to the stem guide I2 of the valve.

The follower mem-ber 2| comprises a solid cylinder 26 dimensioned to be rotatably received within the hollow cylindrical wall 2'I of the cam member 2D and having an upwardly extending stem 28 formed at its upper end 29 to receive a wrench. The rotatable member 2| has a threaded hole extending upwardly part way therethrough for :threadedly engaging the screw I5 of the valve stem 6.

The cylindrical wall 27 of the `cam member 20 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite curved slots 21a, the edges of which constitute cam surfaces adapted to lbear against follower rollers 30a. secured by screws 30 to .the cylindrical portion 26 of member 2|. It will be apparent that in response to rotation of the follower member .2| the rollers 3a traveling in the slots 21a will raise or lower the member 2| and will simultaneously raise or lower the valve stem 6.

As shown in Fig. 1, when the rollers 30a are positioned in the lower ends lof the slots 21a, the gate of the valve is fully seated. On the other hand, when Ithe member 2| is rotated counterclockwise to Icarry the rollers 30a into the upper ends of the slots 27a, the gate 4 will be in fully opened position.

It will Ibe observed from Fig. 4 that the lower end of each slot 21a. is very nearly horizontal, but that ithe slots rise quite steeply through .the intermediate portions of their length. This shape imparts a powerful vertical seating or unseating force to the ygate in response to only a moderate torque applied to the follower member 2|. On the other hand, when the gate 4 is freed from its seat, there is very little resistance to its movement and the steep intermediate portions of the slots 21a lift or lower the gate through a substantial vertical distance in response to rotation of the member 2| through a relatively small angle. In the particular construction shown, rotation of the member 2| through slightly more than half a revolution, functions to move the gate 4 from one extreme position to the other. Obviously, ythe exact arcuate extent of the slots 21a may be varied, where necessary, to meet .the requirements of valves of different sizes.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the upper end of each slot 21a has a recess 35 in its lower wall to eliminate any tendency for the gate 4 to drop back into closed position, the weight of the rotatable assembly, the stem 6 and the gate 4 tending to retain the -rollers 30a in the recesses 35.

The rotatable member 2| rotates on the screw I5 during operation, and movement of member 2| in clockwise direction tends .to lift the screw I5 as a result of the relative rotation between the member 2| and the screw. However, the slope of the slots Za near their lower end is made slightly greater than the slope of the threads of screw I5 so that the lowering movement of member 2| in response to clockwise rotation thereof, is greater than the lifting movement :applied to the screw I5 by member 2|, so that the resultant movement of the stem 6 is always downward in response to clockwise direction of .the member 2 I.

My attachment is easily applied to an existing valve by removing the usual superstructure supporting the nut and handwheel from the valve body. This superstructure is not shown in the drawing, but would be attached to the gland member "I, Then, if the screw portion I5 of the valve stem is too long, a portion thereof is cut off. N ext the entire attachment of the present invention is placed on the valve by screwing the member 2| onto the screw l5. With the gate 4 seated and |the rollers 35a in the lower ends of the slots 27a, the assembly, including the members 20 and 2|, is screwed down onto the screw I5 until the frame member 24 rests on the guide member I2, whereupon the base member 24 is secured to the guide member I2 with the bolt 23.

If at any time it is found that rotation of the member 2| into extreme clockwise position, as shown in Fig. 1, does not fully seat the gate 4, corrective adjustment is made by removing the bolts 23 and rotating the entire assembly, including the frame 24, in counterclockwise direction into a new position, and again placing the bolts 23. Such counterclockwise rotation of the assembly causes the rotatable member 2| to ride upwardly along the screw I5, thereby lowering the stem 6 and the gate 4 with respect to the entire cam mechanism. An annular row of holes for the bolts 23 may be provided in the member 24 and/or the member I2, so that those two members can be bolted together in any of a large number of different rotative positions, to provide for accurate adjustment of the gate 4 in closed position.

As previously indicated, a specic embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of explaining the invention, but the invention is to be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An attachment for a gate valve having a valve body, a gate and a screw stem for shifting the gate, said attachment comprising: a stationary body member adapted to be mounted on the valve body in concentric relation with the valve stem, a rotatable member supported by said body member for rotary and axial movement with respect to said valve stem, cooperating cam and cam follower elements on said two respective members for effecting longitudinal movement of said rotatable member in response to rotation thereof, and means for rotatably connecting said rotatable member to the valve stem.

2. An attachment as described in claim 1, in which said body member comprises a hollow cylindrical shell portion, and said rotatable member comprises a cylindrical hub rotatably fitted in said shell.

3. An attachment as described in claim l, in which said body member comprises a hollow cylindrical shell portion and said rotatable member comprises a cylindrical hub rotatably fitted in said shell, and said cam and cam follower elements comprise an approximately helical cam track on one of said members, and a substantially radially projecting cam follower on the other member.

4. An attachment as described in claim l, in which said body member comprises a hollow, cylindrical shell, and said rotatable member comprises a cylindrical hub rotatably fitted in said shell and said cam and cam follower elements comprise a plurality of circumferentially symmetrically disposed cam tracks on one of said members, and a plurality of cooperating, circumferentially symmetrically disposed cam followers on the other.

5. An attachment as described in claim 1, in which the means for coupling the rotatable memberto the valve stem includes a threaded opening in the member threaded stem.

6. An attachment as described in claim 1, in which the means for coupling the rotatable member to the Valve stem includes a threaded opening in the member adapted to screw onto the threaded stem, said cam and cam follower elen ments functioning to move said rotatable member in seating direction and to move said stem in unseating direction with respect to said rotatable member in response to rotation of the latter in a single direction, the pitch of said cam being greater than the pitch of the thread on the valve stem, whereby seating movement of the rotatable member relative to the valve body is adapted to screw onto the greater than miseating movement of the valve stem relative to the rotatable member.

7 In combination in a valve, a valve body having a seat and a closure member mounted for lineal movement into and out of seating relation, a screw stem for shifting said movable valve body, said stem extending exterior of said Valve body, a rotatable member coaxial with and secured to said stem, and means for rotatably supporting said rotatable member, and cooperating cam and cam follower elements on said rotatable member and said supporting means therefor, for eecting longitudinal movement of said rotatable member in response to rotation thereof.

CHARLES L. GUTTERY. 

